Cheese and Other Distractions

I came to Italia with an idea in mind, with some concept of how to spend my last 9 days as a free person before I enslave myself to my education again. I wanted to eat amazing food, find an apartment, launch my blog, and get some sightseeing done. Let's just say that things aren't going as planned. Between the geographical limitations, moderate physical injury (I threw out my back badly, but I'm hanging in there), and numerous technological hurdles things are....well, different. Oh, and I still need a place to live. I have 4 more days left. Let's hope my body kicks back in and allows me to enjoy what's left of my freedom.

On the plus side of things, I have fallen in love with the European breakfast all over again. Years ago, I visited Germany and learned that their breakfast is comprised of fresh baked breads, homemade preserves and jams with coffee and/or tea. It's been a memory that stayed with me since and I have unsuccessfully tried to duplicate it with La Brea Bakery bread, Bonne Mamane marmalade and other miserable substitutes....what a joke!

It turns out that the Italians enjoy a similarly wonderful fare in the morning. Since I arrived, I have enjoyed fresh breads, homemade jams, sliced meats, and local cheeses every morning. It's what I've been looking forward to at four in the afternoon. I've even become a lover of blue cheese! Yes.....I said blue cheese!!!!

By Italian law, Gorgonzola is covered by a Protected Geographical Status which means it can only be produced in Piedmont and Lombardy. Well, I'm staying in La Morra which is in the Piedmont region and the cheese is fabulous. Every morning the hotel's housekeeper, Sara, arranges a spread in the dining area and I have to say, I just can't get enough.

Once I fill my plate (and you know I do), I sit outside at my reserved table on the patio at stare at this view:

And that delicious Gorgonzola I'm obsessed over??? It's so creamy that I slab on a thick layer onto a piece of bread and top it with several slices of prosciutto and relish in it's tasty wonder. Now that is the breakfast of champions.

To see more photos of my Italian breakfast love affair and other photos of my travels, check out the "Just Photos!" tab toward the top of the page.